1974 in comics

• From May to September, Marvel debuts their Giant-Size series, mostly double- or triple-length comics featuring their most popular characters. Many of the Giant-Size books are one-shots; none of the ongoing titles last more than six issues.
• Marvel Fireside Books debuts with Origins of Marvel Comics (Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster).
• Tut le Blanc's comic strip An Altar Boy Named Speck concludes

• January 1: on Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Des filles et des moteurs, by Jean Graton; the story sees the wedding of Michel Vaillant and Francoise Latour.
• January 25–27: Francis Groux, Jean Mardikian, Claude Moliterni organize the first edition of the Angoulême International Comics Festival in Angoulême, France.[1]
• The Demon, with issue #16, is cancelled by DC.
• Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.
• In Italy, first issue of Alter linus (Milano libri), supplement of Linus, dedicated to the adventure comics; of the erotic series Maghella (Ediperiodici) and of the cartoon for children Pinocchio (Bianconi).
• On the Italian magazine Linus, first chapter of Corto Maltese in Siberia, by Hugo Pratt; the publication of the story, one of the longest and most complex adventures of the hero, is fulfilled only in July 1977.
• Chinook, by Derib, first album of Buddy Longway
• Le prince du Nil, by Jacques Martin

• February 21: The final episode of Machiko Hasegawa's Sazae-san is published.[2]
• February 27: The Flemish comics magazine Pats, a weekly children's supplement of the newspapers Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Het Handelsblad, De Gentenaar and De Landwacht, changes its name to the Patskrant. It will run until 23 August 1977, after which its becomes the Stipkrant.
• Adventure Comics #431: Spectre feature begins by writer Michael Fleisher and artist Jim Aparo.[3] It runs through issue #440.
• Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200: "The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum.
• With issue #18 (February /March cover date), DC Comics' Mister Miracle (1971 series) goes on hiatus.
• Hero for Hire, with issue #17, changes its name to Power Man.
• Special Marvel Edition, with issue #16, is cancelled by Marvel; its numbering continues with Master of Kung Fu (April).
• The Punisher makes his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129.

• The first issue of the Lucky Luke monthly magazine is published, which will run until February 1975. [4]
• Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, with issue #15, cancelled by DC.
• Prez, with issue #4, cancelled by DC.
• The first strips of Trino (Triune) by Altan, an irreverent and even profane retelling of the Genesis creation narrative, appear on Linus.[5]

• The last issue of the Dutch underground magazine Aloha is published.[6]
• With issue #164 (April /May cover date), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (1954 series) changes its name and format to The Superman Family.[7]
• Master of Kung Fu debuts with issue #17, continuing the numbering of Special Marvel Edition.
• With issue #6, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery changes its name to Red Circle Sorcery.[8] (Red Circle Comics)

• May 19: Paperino ai mondiali (Donald at the World Cup), published by Mondadori for the 1974 FIFA World cup, containing two stories: Paperino ai mondiali di calcio (Donald at the Football world cup), by Romano Scarpa, and Paperino calciatore (Donald football player), by Gian Giacomo Dalmasso and Marco Rota.
• Marvel Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 20 cents to 25 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.

• June 16: on Topolino, Mickey Kid and Goofy Six-Shots, by Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi (see below).

• Seaboard Periodicals formed by former Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman to publish comics under the Atlas Comics banner.
• On Italy, first issue of Corriere della paura (Fear Courier), by Editoriale Corno, anthological magazine of the Marvel horror comics.

• July 11: on Le monde, first chapter of Asterix and Casear’s gift, by Goscinny and Uderzo.
• Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, with issue #120, is cancelled by Marvel.
• The Amazing World of DC Comics #1, DC's in-house fanzine
• On Italy, firs issue of the erotic series Coxeman (StudioOriga), lasted only two numbers.

• August 7: on Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Champion du monde, by Jean Graton.
• Roy Thomas steps down as Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, succeeded by Len Wein (color titles) and Marv Wolfman (black-and-white titles).
• Giant-Size Super-Stars, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics).
• Worlds Unknown, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.

• Sub-Mariner, with issue #72, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Giant-Size Chillers, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Dracula (Marvel Comics).
• Supergirl, with issue #10 (September /October cover date), is cancelled by DC.[9]
• Spider-Man: The Manga, with issue #30, is cancelled by Monthly Shōnen Magazine.
• Daim Press begins to publish I protagonisti (The protagonists), a collection of graphic novels, written and drawn by Rino Albertarelli, about the true lives of the American Frontier's heroes; the first is George Armstrong Custer. The series, very appreciated also for its historical accuracy, is interrupted after less than a year by the author’s death.

• Weird Worlds, with issue #10 (October /November cover date), is cancelled by DC.[9]
• Giant-Size Creatures, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Werewolf (Marvel Comics).
• Monsters on the Prowl, with issue #30, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Wolverine makes his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180.
• In Batman #258 the psychiatric hospital Arkham Asylum makes its first appearance.
• In the magazine Lucky Luke, first chapter of Le cavalier blanc,, by Goscinny and Morris.

• The first issue of the French adult comics magazine Métal Hurlant is published by Les Humanoïdes Associés. It will run until 1987.[10]

• The Dutch comics appreciation society Het Stripschap establishes their annual Stripschapprijs, the most important Dutch comics award. The first winner is publishing company Skarabee. [11][12]
• The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine CISO-Magazine is published by Danny De Laet. It changes its name into Stripgids and receive a new chief editor, Jan Smet. Under its new name it will continue until 1985.
• Tim Wallace draws an underground comic strip named Ka-Blam, which features a man whose head explodes after smoking a joint.[13]
• The Costa Rican artist Fernando Zeledón Guzmán creates the satirical comic strip La Semana en Serio in the communist magazine Adelante. It will run until 1991.[14]

• January 5: Haaken Christensen, Norwegian comics artist (Brumle), dies at age 87. [15]
• January 15: Richard E. Hughes, American comics writer and editor (Herbie Popnecker), passes away at age 74.
• January 17: Arthur Radebaugh, American illustrator and comics artist (Closer Than We Think), dies at age 67.[16]
• January 18: Bill Finger, American comics writer and artist (co-creator of Batman and The Green Lantern), dies at age 59.

• February 8: Franco Caprioli, Italian comics artist, dies at age 61. [17]
• February 12: José Robledano, Spanish comics artist (El Suero Maravilloso), dies at age 89.[18]
• February 16: Alfred Mazure, Dutch comics artist and writer, film director and novelist (Dick Bos, Romeo Brown), passes away at the age of 59.[19]

• March 4: Paul Gordeaux, French journalist, historian, playwright, novelist, comedian and comics writer (L' Histoire du Demi-Siècle, Le Crime Ne Paie Pas, Les Amours Célèbres), dies at age 82.[20]
• March 21: Eric Parker, British comics artist and illustrator (worked for Knockout, Buster and Ranger, Pepys' Diary, Tommy Walls), passes away at age 76.[21]

• April 22: Tjalie Robinson, Dutch comics artist (Taaie en Neut), dies at age 63.[22]
• April 27: Jean Bernard-Aldebert, French caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist (Adonis, Gigolette), dies at age 64.[23]

• May 3: Ray Hoppman, American comics artist (Going Down!, This is the Life, Types of Humanity, Morals of Young Mister Wise, Make-A-Comic, Ma, Twinkling Stars, continued Assorted Nuts, Hank and Pete, Famous Fans), dies at age 87.[24]
• May: Gene Bilbrew, American cartoonist and fetish artist (continued Clifford), dies at age 50.[25]

• June 22: Alain Saint-Ogan, French comics artist (Zig et Puce), passes away at the age of 78.[26]
• Specific date unknown: William St. John Glenn, British comics artist (Oscar, Dorothea, Ballyscunnion), dies at age 69.[27]

• July 7:
  • Antonio Sciotti, Italian comics artist (Dev Bardai), dies at age 49.[28]
  • Dave Wood, American comics writer (DC Comics, Harvey Comics, Lev Gleason), dies at age 47.[29]
• July 9: Leo Dorfman, American comics writer (National Periodical), dies at age 60.
• July 26: Gene Byrnes, American comics artist (Reg'lar Fellers), dies of a heart ailment at age 84.[30]

• August 29: Luis Medrano, Argentine journalist and comics artist (Grafodramas, Matías), dies at age 59. [31]

• September 5: James Swinnerton, American comics artist and painter (The Little Bears, Mr. Jack, Little Jimmy), dies at age 98.[32]
• September 9: Manuel Urda Marín, Spanish comics artist and animator, passes away at age 86.[33]
• September 18: Gérard Alexandre, French comics artist (continued L'Espiègle Lili), dies at age 60.[34]
• September 21: Paul Robinson, American comics artist (Etta Kett, The Love-Byrds), dies at age 76.[35]

• October 13: Otto Binder, American comics writer (Captain Marvel Adventures), dies at age 63.[36]

• November 9: Charles W. Winter, American comics artist (Thorny the Cactus, Hank and His Whale, Jit Jones, Diggy the Derrick, Justin Thyme, Lady De Van), dies at age 56.[37]

• December 15: Harry Hershfield, American humorist, radio comedian and comics artist (Abie the Agent), dies at age 89.[38]
• December 22: Adrian Dingle, Welsh-Canadian painter and comics artist (Nelvana of the Northern Lights, The Penguin, Nils Grant, Private Investigator), dies at age 62.[39]
• December 24: Everett M. "Busy" Arnold, American comics publisher (Quality Comics), dies at age 75.
• Specific date unknown: D. C. Eyles, British illustrator and comics artist (continued Kit Carson), dies at age 72.[40]

• Bertie Brown, British comics artist (Homeless Hector, The Brownie Boys, Pa Perkins and Percy, Dad Walker and his Son Wally, Constable Cuddlecook, Smiler and Smudge, Pinhead and Pete, Jumbo Jim and Brother Tim, celebrity comics based on Charlie Chaplin among others), dies at age 86 or 87.[41]
• Germán Butze, Mexican comics artist (Los Supersabios, Super Whiz Kids) dies at age 61 or 62.[42]
• Vernon Miller, Canadian comics artist (Iron Man), dies at age 62.[43]
• Herbert Ruschke, German illustrator and comics artist (Waputa die Geierkralle, Ali Ben Populi and 'Hodscha Nasreddin), dies at age 59 or 60.[44]

(Formerly the Goethe Awards) Announced in The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom #123 (March 26, 1976) (for comics published in 1974).[53] Awards co-administered by Ken Gale.[54]

• Favorite Writer: Roy Thomas
• Favorite Penciller: Jim Starlin
• Favorite Inker: Tom Palmer
• Favorite Editor: Roy Thomas
• Favorite Comic Book: E-Man (Charlton)
• Favorite Fanzine: The Comic Reader

Presented in 1975 for comics published in 1974:

• Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian (Marvel Comics)
• Best Individual Story: "Götterdämmerung", in Detective Comics #443 (DC)
• Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "Cathedral Perilous" (Manhunter) by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #441 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin
• Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): John Buscema
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
• Best Humor Story: "Kaspar the Dead Baby" Crazy #8 (Marvel)
• Best Writer (Humor Division): Steve Skeates
• Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese
• Best Letterer: John Costanza
• Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
• Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
• Hall of Fame: Jack Kirby

OMAC

Release: September /October Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.[55]

Rima, the Jungle Girl

Release: April /May. Editor: Joe Kubert.

The Sandman

Release: Winter. Writer: Joe Simon. Artists: Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.[56]

Comix Book

Release: October by Magazine Management Co.. Editor: Denis Kitchen.

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu

Release: April by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Doctor Strange

Release: June. Writer: Steve Englehart (co-plot; script), Frank Brunner (co-plot). Artists: Frank Brunner and Dick Giordano.

Giant-Size Avengers

Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Chillers

Release: June. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Conan

Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Creatures

Release: July. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artists: Don Perlin and Vince Colletta.

Giant-Size Defenders

Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Man-Thing

Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu

Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Spider-Man

Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Super-Stars

Release: May. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott.

Haunt of Horror

Release: May by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Ka-Zar vol. 2

Release: January Writer: Mike Friedrich. Artists: Paul Reinman and Mike Royer.

Man-Thing

Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Val Mayerik and Sal Trapani.

Marvel Two-in-One

Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.[57]

Planet of the Apes

Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Writers: Gerry Conway and Doug Moench. Artist: Mike Ploog.

Savage Sword of Conan

Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Hana to Yume

Release: May by Hakusensha.

Jinty

Release: November 5 by Fleetway.

Métal Hurlant

Release: December by Les Humanoïdes Associés.

Princess

Release: by Akita Shoten

Star*Reach

Release: April by Star*Reach. Editor: Mike Friedrich.

Warlord

Release: September 28 by D.C. Thomson.

The First Kingdom

Release: by Comics and Comix

• Anthony Lupus, in Batman #255 (April)
• Harvey Bullock, in Detective Comics #441 (June)
• Global Peace Agency, in OMAC #1 (October)
• Inspector William Henderson, in Action Comics #440 (October)
• Libra, in Justice League of America #111 (June)
• OMAC, in OMAC #1 (October)
• Quentin Turnbull, in Weird Western Tales #22 (March/April)
• Rima, in Rima the Jungle Girl #1 (April /May)
• Sandman, in Sandman #1 (Winter)
• Vartox, in Superman #281 (November)[58]

• Allatou, in Marvel Spotlight #18 (October)
• Alpha the Ultimate Mutant, in Defenders #15 (September)
• Aries (Grover Raymond), in The Avengers #120 (February)
• Baron Macabre, in Jungle Action #9 (May)
• Abe Brown, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
• Deathlok (Luther Manning), in Astonishing Tales #25 (August)
• Bob Diamond, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
• Doctor Sun, in Tomb of Dracula #16 (January)
• Dragon Lord (Nu-An), in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)
• Equinox, in Marvel Team-Up #23 (July)
• Foolkiller, in Man-Thing #3 (March)
• Gabriel the Devil Hunter, in Haunt of Horror #2 (July)
• Grizzly (Maxwell Markham), in The Amazing Spider-Man #139 (December)
• Hammer and Anvil, in The Incredible Hulk #182 (December)
• Iron Fist, in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)
• Hannibal King, in The Tomb of Dracula #25 (October)
• Lilith, in Giant-Size Chillers featuring Curse of Dracula #1 (June)
• Malice, in Jungle Action vol. 2, #8 (January)
• Nefarius, in Captain America #169 (January)
• Nitro, in Captain Marvel #34 (September)
• Punisher, in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February)
• Roxxon Energy Corporation, in Captain America #180 (December)
• Silver Samurai, in Daredevil #111 (July)
• Lin Sun, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
• Colleen Wing, in Marvel Premiere #19 (November)
• Wolverine, in The Incredible Hulk #180 (October)
• Wrecking Crew, in Defenders #17 (November)
  • Bulldozer
  • Piledriver
  • Thunderball
• Y'Garon, in Giant-Size Dracula #2 (September )

• Tara Fremont, in Tara on the Dark Continent (Paragon Publications)
• Yor the hunter, by Juan Zanotto and Ray Collins, on Skorpio.
• Jonathan Cartland, trapper similar to Jeremiah Johnson, by Michel Blanc-Dumont, on Lucky Luke.
• Yves Sanclair, jet pilot, by Claude Moliterni and Patrice Serres, on Phenix.
• Johnny Focus, press photographer and adventurer, by Attillio Micheluzzi, on Corriere dei Ragazzi (February 24)[59]
• Mickey the Kid and Six-Shoot Goofy, two bounty-hunters in the Far West, ancestors of Mickey and Goofy, by Guido Martina, on Topolino (June 16).